Hello Everyone,
In this day and age, you hear about many
young people’s actions being described in unkind words, and I
just have to tell you about the remarkable men who came from the Pi
Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Eastern Kentucky University for our American
Girl Fashion Show. This group of 20 men, who are friends with our son
Spencer, gave up their entire weekend for the Aubrey Rose Foundation
and showed outstanding behavior, openness to our efforts, and an understanding
about
our mission for the event. They quickly caught on to positions and followed
through with an enthusiastic attitude. These fraternity brothers seemed
to have fun and exemplify the spirit of Aubrey, because whatever we
did with her whether it was going to church or going to the doctors,
it was a party. In starting this Foundation, we made a vow to ourselves
that whatever we do we want it to be a party, whether it is a program
for a family that we are helping or if you are a volunteer for the Foundation.
We had so many Fashion Show participants come up and say to us, how
wonderful, polite, and kind these students were. We are so proud of
them for the time they gave to the Aubrey Rose Foundation. Hopefully
they enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed having them there.
After the weekend was over, I received
an e-mail from a girlfriend of one of the Fraternity brothers thanking
us for letting them come and help for the American Girl Fashion Show.
I was amazed that someone would take the time to thank us for what these
boys gave so freely to the Foundation. She also explained that some
of them truly came back changed from their weekend with us. As she was
writing, she revealed that she was in tears because of all the stories
she had heard from this weekend and how these young men felt that they
“had never been a part of something so great." She concluded
her e-mail by sharing with me that she had read the whole website that
morning and it truly touched her heart. She wants to help in the future!
After reading this email, I sat there
in awe that this kind-hearted girl, who you can tell is beautiful on
the inside and out, took the time to share this with us. I just sat
there and smiled because I thought of Aubrey and I am sure that she
was smiling right along with me! Every day we get sweet reminders how
this precious little girl is not only touching us, but touching many
people from up in Heaven and that is what this Foundation is all about.
Aubrey had a job to do on this earth and when she died, her job was
done, and that is when ours just began! We have been given an extraordinary
mission – to be able to help millions of children throughout the
whole world! We are ready, willing, and able to do this, but we have
to work hard and smart. The success of this Foundation comes from the
kindness of wonderful people such as these 20 men from Eastern Kentucky
and all of the other amazing volunteers we had for the American Girl
Fashion Show. This includes the other wonderful people such as yourself
who want to pitch in and help any way possible, whether it is a kind
email to us, taking the time to volunteer, raising much needed funds,
or as simple as believing in what we do and sharing the word about our
Foundation.
We truly thank you from the bottom of our hearts and
double lungs for your support!
Jerry,
Nancy, Carly, Spencer and Saint Aubrey Hollenkamp
George and Nancy Frondorf, (Aubrey's Grandparents)
Some
thoughts on the American Girl Fashion show
Trying
to describe an American Girl Fashion Show as choreographed by Nancy and
Jerry Hollenkamp is probably as futile as explaining Woodstock to your kids.
There is a palpable excitement in the air. Even those of us without a daughter
or grand daughter in the show could feel the energy. There were 6 shows
that weekend.
They
took place in a very large room at Music Hall, filled to capacity with supporters
of the Aubrey Rose Foundation. A chest high runway went from the emcee,
halfway to the far wall and split into two branches (imagine a “T”
with the emcee at the bottom). The runway was surrounded by dozens of large
round tables each of which was filled to capacity with family and friends.
A
guest emcee started each show. Nancy spoke briefly and disappeared as Jerry
described each set of two girls and related their American Girl story. Jerry
was a natural and kept everything moving like a pro. And his description
of his family’s time with Aubrey Rose was moving to the point of tears.
And of course the girls were wonderful. Some were naturals, even giving
a model’s turn at the end of the runway. Some of the littlest ones
were hilarious as they lost their way, following each other to the right
or left…the crowd loved it.
I
think I know where Nancy disappeared to. Somewhere behind Jerry were over
100 little girls waiting their turn on the runway. Each girl was dressed
in costume matching the American Girl doll she was to carry down the T shaped
runway. All were nervous. Somehow Nancy and her helpers were able to get
them to come out in the right order, with the right doll and in the right
costume. Of course we saw none of their work. All we saw were two perfectly
ready little girls popping magically from the door each time Jerry called
them. Amazing.
And
this was just one of the 6 shows that the Hollenkamps and their volunteers
ran that weekend. The guest Emcees included Courtis Fuller, "My Mom
Calls Me George", Faith Daniels, Denny Marder and Jack Atherton.
The
annual American Girl Fashion Show is an important fund raiser for the Aubrey
Rose Foundation. It’s a lot of work for Nancy, Jerry and all the volunteers
but in the end it’s also an awful lot of fun for everyone. If you
couldn’t make it this year, try to be there next year. Help a great
cause, have fun and none of the Woodstock mud!
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Mark
your Calendars for the Aubrey's Open Golf Outing
DATE:
Sunday, May 17, 2009
LOCATION:
Aston Oaks Golf Course, 1 Aston Oaks Drive, North Bend, Ohio 45052
TIME:
Lunch starts at Noon and Tee Off Time is 1:30pm.
We
would like to invite you to the fun-filled outing with golf, friends,
and good food all in 
an
effort to make a difference in a child's life. Your participation will
assure that Aubrey's Foundation remains strong in its efforts to provide
funding for those children facing life-threatening medical conditions.
Tee
off starts at 1:30 but as part of your golf package, that includes lunch
by JTM, your golf, golf cart, an Aubrey logo'd item and dinner by Texas
Roadhouse and many more surprises for you all for $100 per person or $400
for a 
foursome.
We have many people who do not golf, but come just for the dinner and
you are welcome to come and enjoy a delicious dinner for $15. The golf
outing fills up fast so please get your foursome as soon as possible!
For
more details on the golf outing and/or the dinner, please
click here.
If
you cannot attend our golf outing but still want to participate, you can
make a donation to help us put smiles on the faces of many children and
their families.
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Reds
Opening Day Parade
It
was a dismal day but there was cheer in the air as the 90th Findlay Market
Opening Day parade took place. We had a float as usual in this parade with
fewer people walking with us and fewer people watching the parade as well,
which was understandable since it was 37 degrees with light rain the entire
parade. Two of our participants, David and Grace Adams, were captured by
The Enquirer photographer, Malinda Hartong, as they walked beside a replica
of the Tyler Davidson Fountain complete with batting gloves on. In spite
of the rain, it was a fun time for all!
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Fireworks
Spectacular 
We
have the best seat on the river lined up for the WEBN Fireworks literally...
You don't want to miss this years Fireworks with the Aubrey Rose Foundation
on the Belle of Cincinnati where WEBN actually broadcasts from. Your ticket
to this spectacular event will include hors d'ouevres, dinner, desserts,
beer and wine for three hours long and everyone gets their very own Aubrey
logo'd chair with it's own carrying case that you can use to sit out on
the deck to watch the best fireworks show around!
Click
Here for More Information and to Order Tickets
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April
is Organ Donor Sabath Month
The
Aubrey Rose Foundation is a partner in a national initiative called the Workplace
Partnership for Life. This is part of the United States Department of Health
and Human Services. We are committed to making our Foundation supporters aware
that organ donors save lives and to letting them know how to become a donor.
Today, more than 100,000 men, women, and children are on the national waiting
list for a transplant. We are here to give them hope –and help.
The
month of April is National Donate Life Month. Organ donation has left a profound
impact on our lives with Aubrey’s heart and double lung transplant at
18 months of age and when she died, she was an organ donor as well. We had
another 18 months with Aubrey’s new heart and double lungs and these
are months we will cherish forever. Please do not think that because she died,
her transplant was not a success – it was a huge success and we got
to see her love life and be a normal little girl because the greatest gift
anyone could have ever given us – and that was the gift of their own
child’s organs. They took a tragedy and turned it into something good
and lasting! Here’s another story of Brian and his need for a liver
transplant.
Brian
waited almost two years to receive a liver transplant, spending most of that
time lying on a couch, too sick to play with his young daughter, often too
sick to talk to his wife. After his transplant, Brian’s family gave
a party to celebrate his first six months of good health. To a group of happy
but tearful friends, Brian said: “Without a donor, I’m not here
today”…. Then he announced, with a huge grin, “But next
week, I’m going back to work!”
Six
years later Brian continues to serve his community as a fireman/medic, to
compete in the National Transplant Games, and to participate in rides and
other events that promote donation awareness and donor registration. He never
forgets that he can do all this thanks to the incredible generosity of a stranger.
More
than 100,000 people are on the national waiting list for an organ transplant.
For
information on how to register as a donor, please visit LifeCenter Organ Donor
Network at: http://www.lifepassiton.org
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Ronald
McDonald Dinner
Saturday, April 18, is our next scheduled Ronald McDonald House
themed dinner party "Racing at Ronnie's" This fun event will be
a sure hit with the families living at the House. We'll have all kinds of
neat decorations, crafts for the children at 5pm and then a delicious dinner
will be served at 6pm all in a effort to makes these families smile.
It's tough having to live at a Ronald McDonald House because
you are away from your families and friends in a strange city and your child
is sick enough for you to have to go out of town for treatment. It's indeed
scary but having a Ronald McDonald House for someone to "live" in
is a blessing in disguise. From personal experience, the Hollenkamp's lived
at the Cleveland and Philadelphia Ronald McDonald Houses for about 8 months
in total while Aubrey's Grandparents, lived at the Camden, New Jersey House
when they would come to visit. They are very special places and will forever
hold special places in their hearts!
The
Cincinnati Ronald McDonald House just got their kitchen renovated and we're
very excited to be among the first groups to cook a homemade meal for these
families. This will be the last dinner where we cook for 120 people... after
our April dinner, we'll start cooking for 200+ because the new addition to
the House will be opening up and many more families can be helped by this
wonderful place that becomes a home away from home!
This
dinner is filled for volunteering to help but if you would like to join our
future dinners, please send Nancy an
email.
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VOLUNTEER
Click here to send Nancy a message
about volunteering for one of our many different events.
DONATE ONLINE
Click here
to donate to The Aubrey Rose Hollenkamp Foundation and put smiles on the
faces of families and siblings caring for seriously ill children.
DONATE BY PHONE
Call Nancy or Jerry Hollenkamp, Foundation Founders:
(513) 265-5801
DONATE BY MAIL
Send your contribution to:
Aubrey Rose Hollenkamp Foundation
c/o 4480 Oakville Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45211
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